Tournament & Organized Play Guidelines

Event Scope

Snap is designed to function consistently across casual play, competitive tournaments and public demo environments.

This appendix defines mandatory standards and procedures for organized play.

Unless explicitly stated otherwise, all rules in this section apply to sanctioned Snap events.

These guidelines do not replace the core Rulebook. They define event procedure, judge handling and reporting standards around the core rules.

Decision Timing: Shot Clock

Decision timing is enforced to preserve Snap’s intended pace.

Players have up to 30 seconds for any defined decision window.

This includes selecting or locking Support Cards, unlocking Locked Supports, declaring attacks or targets, assigning Blockers, playing Counters, performing Swaps and playing a Prime Singular.

Repeated slow play may result in warnings or penalties at the judge’s discretion.

Snap’s short match duration requires active enforcement of timing rules.

Open Log Requirement

Snap uses a mandatory open log system in organized play.

Players must clearly announce all public actions, including flipping a Monster, locking or unlocking Support Cards, playing Spells or Counters, declaring attacks and targets, assigning Blockers, performing a Swap and playing a Prime Singular.

The identity of hidden cards, including face-down Bench Monsters and Locked Supports, is not announced.

Failure to announce actions may be penalized as misplay or slow play.

Chain Enforcement

Chain limits are mandatory in organized play.

Each player may contribute up to three Counter Cards per chain.

Players must announce when they are adding a Counter to a chain.

If a player attempts to exceed the chain cap, the Counter is illegal and returns to its previous zone.

Judges resolve chain disputes using last-in, first-out resolution.

Judge Authority and Hidden Zones

Judges have final authority over all rules disputes.

Judges may inspect hidden zones only to resolve a dispute.

Inspectable hidden zones include the Locked Support Zone, the Monster Reserve and face-down Bench Monsters.

After inspection, hidden information must be restored immediately.

Judges may issue warnings, game losses or match losses depending on severity.

Physical, Digital and Hybrid Play

Snap explicitly supports multiple play environments while using the same core ruleset.

Physical Play: players use physical cards. A companion app or printed reference displays IMP values and abilities. Hidden zones are maintained physically using face-down cards.

Digital Play: rules enforcement may be automated. Deck legality and card ownership may be verified digitally. Timing and chain limits are enforced by the system.

Hybrid Play: physical cards are used on the table while digital tools provide stat resolution, legality checks and logging.

All play modes use the same core ruleset.

Match Results and Reporting

Matches end immediately when a win condition is met.

Draws are not expected under standard Snap rules.

Results must be reported according to event procedures.

In the case of external interruption, the head judge determines the outcome.

Variant Disclosure

Optional variants and balance levers must be disclosed before an event begins.

If optional variants or balance levers are used, they must be announced clearly before the event begins.

They apply uniformly to all matches in the event.

Unannounced rule changes are not permitted.

Tournament Design Intent

Organized play guidelines exist to preserve Snap’s pace, clarity and competitive integrity.

This section is non-normative except where it defines event procedure.

Organized play should ensure fairness and consistency while supporting spectator readability.

Snap tournaments should feel decisive, transparent and skill-driven.